Carp fishing: How do I maximise my chances of catching fish?

It's sometimes difficult to know how to make the most of your fishing time. In this article, we give you tips on how to maximize your chances of catching great carp. These tips are intended for anglers fishing in lakes or rivers, with a good density of fish.

Work out where you want to fish

The strategy of attracting fish will work if you take the time to find out the areas where fish are active. Generously groundbaiting in a wasteland is NOT going to be effective!

Attracting carp

A simple and well executed strategy can considerably improve your catches of these sometimes very wary fish. The aim is to increase competition for food amongst the fish by attracting them into the same area. This will give you more bites and fewer fish getting off, as they will be better hooked. Contrary to popular belief, making a noise while fishing is not necessarily a bad thing. The carp is an inquisitive fish that quickly associates the noise of boilies falling into the water with an easy feast.

It is important to always groundbait at the same time of day (or night) that you plan to fish. Try to be discreet! Other unscrupulous anglers might want to take advantage of your groundbaiting...

Be accurate at your chosen distance

You can use a Cobra or catapult, depending on the distance to your chosen swim. Get some practice so as to be as accurate as possible. Don't groundbait from the opposite bank because the boilies need to make a noise as they hit the water. It's that very noise which will give them the "food" signal to whet their appetite and put them off their guard.

Prep your spot!

3 days before the session: Early in the evening, spread 750 g of groundbait over a wide area around the spot which you plan to fish.

2 days before the session: Early in the evening, spread 500 g of groundbait over a smaller area than the day before.

1 day before the session: Early in the evening, spread 500 g of groundbait over a smaller area corresponding to the spot which you plan to fish.

On the day: Get there 2 hours before the groundbaiting time of the previous 3 days. Cast your rigs out to your spot and spread 200 g of groundbait over the swim. Groundbait every 30 minutes with a handful or two of boilies over the spot so as to reproduce the sound of the groundbait landing on the previous days.

#A Caperlan tip: If there are two of you fishing and one of you is playing a fish the other angler will groundbait the swim. This will increase the number of takes.

You now have at your disposal a simple strategy which enables you to maximize your chances of catching fish, while making the most of your fishing time.

This strategy of regular groundbaiting can be extremely valuable before the onset of winter, by keeping the fish more active for longer.